Merchants & Marketing Billboard JANUARY 20. 2001 Top Independent Albums,.

it COMPILED FROM A NATIONAL SAMPLE OF RETAIL STORE. MASS MERCHANT. SoundScan® i AND INTERNET SALES REPORTS COLLECTED. COMPILED. AND PROVIDED BY IIIIII Lu w Chicago -Based Indie Rotz Records Shutters; 3 o N Ñ TITLE o, ÿ Y ARTIST 2 g 3 IMPRINT & (SUGGESTED LIST PRICE OR EQUIVALENT)

Richard Lloyd Releases New Album on Upsetter NO. 1 BAHA MEND WHO LET THE DOGS OUT 1 1 24 THE LAST OF ROTZ: We've a long way from Auckland. Our S -CURVE 751052/ARTEMIS (11.98/17.98)D3 18 weeks at No. 1 learned, with frustration, that the apologies. FUNKMASTER FLEX FUNKMASTER FLEX: 60 MINUTES OF FUNK, VOLUME IV: THE MIXTAPE 2 2 5 truth sometimes emerges slowly, DECLARATIONS LOUD 1961* (12.98/18.98) CAPONE -N- NOREAGA 3 8 THE REUNION and often with no respect for FLAG WAVING: Guitarist 3 TOMMY BOY 3110* (12.98/18.98) weekly deadlines. Our attempt to Richard Lloyd, one of our favorite 5 7 LOUIE D0 N.Y.C. UNDERGROUND PARTY VOLUME 3 **OF** E- (1 CD) cover the recent fortunes of Chica- fret -grinders of all time, makes a ® LASTIK 5002 6.98 8 PRODIGY OF MOBB DEEP H -N -I -C go -based indie -rock distributor PUEPENDEYIS,. welcome return to the studio -to 5 4 INFAMOUSNIOLATOR 1873*/LOUD (12.98/17.98) Rotz Records is a case in point. his own studio, in fact -with his EVERLAST 6 7 12 EAT AT WHITEY'S In early December -after new Upsetter Music album, "The TOMMY BOY 1411* (12.98/18.98) by Chris Morris SLIPKNOT a -long med- Cover Doesn't Matter." 7 6 52 SLIPKNOT returning from month I AM 8655*/ROADRUNNER (11.98/17.98) MR ical leave -Declarations of Inde- Lloyd -who rose to promi- 8 THREE 6 MAFIA WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS SIXTY 6, SIXTY 1 pendents began to hear sketchy Records, Inc. took the money and nence in the '70s New York punk 9 3D HYPNOTIZE MINDS 1732 /LOUD (11.98/17.98) VARIOUS ARTISTS 9 MTV: THE RETURN OF ROCK VOLUME 2 rumblings from some sources that run [sic], but the truth is that there scene duelling with axeman Tom 9 8 ROADRUNNER 8509 (12.98/18.98) Rotz, one of the better -established was no money to take, and I am Verlaine in Television- hasn't OUTLAWZ 1i g RIDE WIT US OR COLLIDE WIT US boutique indie distributors in the myself forced to file personal released a studio album since the LO OUTLAW 2000 /BAYSIDE (11.98/16.98) PAUL OAKENFOLD Midwest, was experiencing finan- bankruptcy and am left with sublime "Fields Of Fire" in 1985. 11 15 14 PERFECTO PRESENTS ANOTHER WORLD LONDON -SIRE 31035 (19.98 CD) cial difficulties. approximately $100,000 in debts I Since then, he has toured and DOGGYS ANGELS 12 10 7 PLEEZBALEEVIT! For several weeks in December, borrowed from friends and family recorded as a sideman with such DOGGY STYLE 2130 * /TVT (10.98/17.98) MM SOUNDTRACK LOVE & BASKETBALL we tried reaching Rotz president to start Rotz Records and support talents as John Doe, Matthew 13 13 31 OVERBROOK 39001 /NEW LINE (12.98/17.981 Kai Dohm by telephone, only to it throughout these difficult times. Sweet, and the Health & Hap- LA SOUL 14 18 22 ART OFFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: MOSAIC THUMP run into a familiar phone -mail " ... I [spent] between 60 -120 piness Show, and established TO?OEM BOY 1361* (12.98/18.98) NICKELBACK Maginot Line. Our calls went unre- hours /week the last 101/2 years on himself as a guitar teacher. 12 38 THE STATE 15 ROADRUNNER 8586 (11.98/17.98) MR turned, which led us to believe that Rotz Records with a passion for But Lloyd decided he wanted to ELVIS PRESLEY 16 29 16 THE ELVIS PRESLEY COLLECTION COUNTRY the rumors about Rotz's problems music which has faded due to the test his band and himself in the RCA 23725/TIME LIFE (13.98/24.98) - were not uninformed. In I have received from ven- studio and saw opportunities for SOULFLY PRIMITIVE the past, threats 17 11 15 ROADRUNNER 8565 (11.98/17.98) Dohm had always been scrupulous dors on my health, life, and even releasing his music on the Inter- SNOOP DOGG 16 10 DEAD MAN WALKIN about returning calls. the well -being of my family in Ger- net. 18 D3 33349 /DEATH ROW (16.98 CD) So, with nothing more than some many. Needless to say that I have "I'm on fire now," he says. "The WARRIORZ 19 19 13 LOUDM'O'P 1778* (12.98/17.98) half- formed tales to go on, we let no interest whatsoever to be whole idea of doing this on my own KITTIE 20 14 52 SPIT the story rest there. involved in the music business in in my underwear ... is that maybe NG 751002 /ARTEMIS (10.98/16.98) ME B-LEGIT We returned to the office Jan. 2 the future!" I can build a career I never had." RE -ENTRY HEMPIN' AIN'T EASY CD SICK IT /IN THE PAINT 8167/KOCH (10.98/17.98) to discover a late- December E- The closure of Rotz after a Over the course of a year, Lloyd, WID' HOLIDAY EXPRESS GREATEST HITS mail from Dohm. It began, decade in business is only the most drummer Chris Butler, and bassist 22 NEW OGLIO 89120 (16.98 CD) SOUNDTRACK "[Rotz's] bank has foreclosed Rotz recent indie distribution catastro- Peter Stuart cut material in the gui- 2 MISS CONGENIALITY 23 38 TVT SOUNDTRAX 6940/TVT (17.98 CD) Records, Inc. on Nov. 17th." phe to strike in the Chicago area. tarist's jerry-rigged studio. JOHN HIATT 34 15 CROSSING MUDDY WATERS Dohm attempted to explain his In the last four years, a trio of "I would ask these engineers to 24 VANGUARD 79576 (16.98 CD) in look THE PHARCYDE long silence: "The reason for not other distribs the region -Feed- come over and at it," says 25 25 7 PLAIN RAP returning phone calls and inquiries back, Cargo, and M.S.- closed Lloyd. "They'd look around and go, DELICIOUS VINYL 18223 * /EDEL AMERICA (16.98 CD) VARIOUS ARTISTS 24 19 PUNK 0 RAMA #5 is that I was trying to get into a their doors for good. `Aach! This is wired all wrong!' 26 EPITAPH 86588 (4.98 CD) DJ ESCAPE workout situation with the bank, Rotz's shuttering reportedly Then I'd play `em something and PARTY TIME 2001 27 31 10 GROOVILICIOUS 35104/STRICTLY RHYTHM (19.98 CD) Mil but negotiations have failed, and I leaves such creditor labels as Flip - they'd say, `Mmm, how'd you do JANE MONHEIT RE -ENTRY NEVER NEVER LAND was advised by my and the banks' side, Moon Ska, GMM, Hopeless, it ?' " 2$ N -CODED 4207/WARLOCK (16.98 CD) El lawyers to keep quiet." Nitro, and Revelation in a major He adds, "I couldn't have made SNOOP DOGG & THA EASTSIDAZ 29 35 44 SNOOP DOGG PRESENTS THA EASTSIDAZ One source, who contacted Dec - financial lurch. And those were the this record in a real studio, because DOGG HOUSE 2040 * /TVT (10.98/17.98) SOUNDTRACK FIEND PRESENTS: CAN I BURN? THE ROCKUMENTARY larations Of Independents in early best -established labels among I'd need a million -dollar budget ... 3O RE -ENTRY FIEND ENTERTAINMENT 2001 (11.98/17.98) January, disputes Dohm's explana- Rotz's roster of some 150 indie -rock It was like my home movies." ATB 33 4 TWO WORLDS tion, saying, "Rotz kept the bank imprints. Undoubtedly, the folding The resultant album features 31 RADIKAL 90024 (18.98 CD) MN TRIPLE 6 MAFIA KINGS OF MEMPHIS: UNDERGROUND VOL. 3 10 seizure under wraps for over a of the company spells extremely some of the finest playing of 32 21 SMOKED OUT 9997/STREET LEVEL (11.98/16.98) month. They were telling labels bad news for dozens of small punk Lloyd's career; keening, brittle, LUNASICC (-31-) NEW TOTAL RECALL throughout December that they labels, which typically operate on unpredictable solos animate every IDEAL 7771 (10.98/16.98) TAYLOR JOHNNIE GET THE GROOVE BACK were still in business." extremely small margins. track. "The Knockdown," "She 34 RE -ENTRY MALACO 7499 (10.98/15.98) GOTTA Whatever the truth may be on Loves To Fly," and "Torn Shirt" PHIFE DAWG 35 RE -ENTRY VENTILATION : DA LP that point, Dohm in the end of the OOPS: In this space last week, are the choicest tracks among 10 GROOVE ATTACK 068 * / LANDSPEED (11.98/16.98)121 KANE & ABEL MOST WANTED E -mail admitted that Rotz had owing to a too -cursory glance at winners. 36 RE -ENTRY MOST WANTED EMPIRE 0001* (11.98/16.98) closed its doors and laid off its staff some bio materials, we incorrect - Lloyd shook down his fresh SPINESHANK 37 23 10 THE HEIGHT OF CALLOUSNESS and that its lender, Citibank, had ly identified singer- songwriter material live with weekly residen- ROADRUNNER 8563 (8.98/13.98) ISM C -BO ENEMY OF THE STATE taken "full control over Rotz David Fischoff as a New Zealan- cy gigs in November and Decem- 3$) RE -ENTRY WEST COAST MAFIA 2829/WARLOCK (11.98/17.98) Records' assets and is looking to der. He lives in Chicago, which is ber at Manitoba's in New York. KENNY ROGERS 26 SHE RIDES WILD HORSES sell the company as [a] whole or to He'd like to follow up the Jan. 30 39 52 DREAMCATCHER 004 (11.98/16.98) LUTHER BARNES & THE SUNSET JUBILAIRES auction it off." The of of the album with some WHEREVER I GO amount the release 4O NEW AIR GOSPEL 10259 /ATLANTA INT'L (9.98/15.98) loan Citibank sought to recoup touring. "The band wants to play, MERLE HAGGARD IF I COULD ONLY FLY with the seizure remains unknown. and I want us to play, and I want 41 28 13 ANTI 86593 /EPITAPH (11.98/17.98) BADLY DRAWN BOY Rotz's assets, as delineated in a to flog it around," he says. 2 HOUR OF BEWILDERBEAST 42 49 XL 40133 /BEGGARS BANQUET (15.98 CD) three -page list prepared by Lloyd's album is currently avail- DOTTIE PEOPLES SHOW UP & SHOW OUT Citibank, consist of apparently able through his superb Web site 43 RE -ENTRY ATLANTA INT'L 10268 (10.98/15.98) KITTIE heavily used office and computer (richardlloyd.com), Upsetter's site 22 4 PAPERDOLL (EP) 44 NG 751066 /ARTEMIS (10.98 CD) equipment. One source claims to (angelfire.com /rock/upsettermu- BUMPY KNUCKLES 45 RE -ENTRY INDUSTRY SHAKEDOWN have seen a 100 -page list of inven- sic), and through Amazon.com. KJAC 2000 * / LANDSPEED (11.98/16.98) NI tory still on hand in the distribu- Parasol is also distributing the SOUNDTRACK DISAPPEARING ACTS 46 43 3 622014 (18.98 CD) on record. But Lloyd is seeking wider ARTEMIS tor's warehouse Chicago's STEVE EARLE 47 RE -ENTRY TRANSCENDENTAL BLUES North Side. (It is unknown distribution; he can be contacted E- SQUARED 751033 / ARTEMIS (16.98 CD) THE RIPPINGTONS FEATURING RUSS FREEMAN whether Rotz owned or leased that through his Web site. 48 44 13 LIFE IN THE TROPICS 16,000- square -foot facility.) The Note for Television fans: Lloyd, PEAK 8500 /CONCORD (16.98 CD) BROTHA LYNCH HUNG RE EBK4 Chicago -based rock label Victory Verlaine, and bandmates Fred 49 -ENTRY BLACK MARKET 4321 (11.98/17.98) Records has reportedly been Smith and Billy Ficca will RICKY CORBO WEBSTER HALL'S NEW YORK DANCE CD VOLUME 4 50 36 6 WEBSTER mulling the acquisition of some regroup for their first show since HALL NYC 18 (16.98 CD) Top Independent Album are rrent titles that are sold via independent distribution. including those which are fulfilled via major branch distribu. Rotz assets. 1992 when the band plays a gig tors. °Albums with the greatest sales gains this week. Recording Industry Assn. Of America (RIAA) certification for net shipment of 500.000 album units (Gold). RIM certification for net shipment of 1 million units (Platinum). RIM certification for net shipment of 10 million units Dohm's E -mail continued, "Some during the "All Tomorrow's Par- (Diamond). Numeral following Platinum or Diamond symbol indicates album's multiplatinum level. For boxed sets, and double albums with a running time of 100 minutes or more, the RIM multiplies shipments by the number of discs and/or tapes. RIM Latin awards. O Certification for net ship. people are under the assumption ties" festival April 6-8 at Camber ment of 100,000 units (Oro). A Certification of 200,000 units ( Platino). 0' Certification of 400,000 units (Multi- Platino). 'Asterisk indicates vinyl LP is available. Most tape prices are suggested lists. Tape prices marked EC) and most CD prices are equivalent prices. which are projected from that I as the president of Rotz LLOYD Sands, England. wholesale prices. II/indicates past or present Heatseeker title. v.2001, Billboard/BPI Communications, and Soundscan, Inc.

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